Electric switch mechanism.



E. H. JACOBS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH MEQHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1915. 1,297,174. Patented Mar. 11,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I- Inventor. DET-nest, H Jacobs 5MM Hisaqttrng.

E. H. JACOBS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH MCHANISM.

APPLICATION. EILED APR. 29. |915.

Patented Mar. 11,1919.

3 SHEETS--SHEET 2- Inventor: Ernest I'I..Jacobs, WM5/@M l-I s ttor-neg.

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E. H. JACOBS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29, l9l5.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

s sHEEs-SHLST a..

His ttor-neg UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

ERNEST H. JACOBS, 0F SCHENECTAIY, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YRK. 1

ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

Application led April 29, 1915. Serial N o. 24,782.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ERNEST citizen of the United States, residin at Schcmwtady, county of Schenectady, tate of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switch Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric switches and more .especially to the mechanisms for automatically operating such switches.

The object of my inventionis to improve in general the operating mechanism of electric switches and more Vparticularly to provide. an improved form of tripping means for electric switches. To this end I provide a tripping device comprising a relay mounted independent of the switch with a winding connected directly to the circuit through the switch, the relay being operatively related to means directly mounted on the switch for tripping the switch instantaneously or with a time lag upon the occurrence of apredetermined overload. The current and time adjustments for the tripping device are insulated from the relay and are adapted to be easily, safely and accurately made without interfering with the operation of the switch.

The novel features whichI believe to be characteristic of my invention will be definitely indicated in the claims appended hereto; the features of construction and mode of operation will be identified by reference to the accompanying drawings which show the preferred embodiments of my invention and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an oil switch embodying the novel, features of my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view Vshowing more in detail, the operating mechanism of the switch embodying my improved type of tripping device; Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a portion of my trippin device and Fig. 4 is another form of the tripping device adapted for the remote control of electric switches.

Referring to the drawings and more especially to Fig. 1, I have shown for purposes of illustration, the features of my invention.

embodiedin a three phase oil switch having three poles or switch unitsjust alike, only two being shown. Each pole or unit comprises an oil vessel 1, having mounted thereon insulators 2 carrying the terminals and iixed contacts of the switch. Mounted between the bushings or insulators 2 of each pole, is the actuating arms 3 ofthe operating mechanism for the switch, to which arms are connected insulating rods 4 carrying the movable cooperating bridging contacts of the switch. three poles of the switch or for each of the switch units are arranged to move rods 4 and hence the movable contacts, in a straie'ht line, by means of parallel motion link mec anism's 5, all the parallel motion mechanisms being interconnected by a rod 6 so as to move simultaneously.

The operating mechanism, suitably mounted at one en d of the switch, controls the movement of the parallel motion mechanisms 5 and rod 6 to cause the opening and closing of the switch. I do not claim, 1n this application, the operating mechanism per se, as this mechanism is described and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 840,501. This operating mechanism which is. of the automatically operated, trip-free-from-thehandle or control mechanism type, comprises the parallel motion link mechanism 5 for operating the movable contacts of the switch in i a straight line. This parallel motion mechanism is actuated by a toggle compris- The actuating arms 3 for the' ing lever 7 and the bell crank lever 8.

Mounted on a shaft 9 is a double bell crank operating lever 10 having bifurcated arms 11 connected by thev rod 12 and connected also by rod 13 upon which is mounted the bell crank lever 8 of the actuating toggle. Connected between one end of the bell crank Alever 8 of the actuating toggle and armsll of the operating lever 10, is a colla sible locking toggle comprising toggle lin s 14 and 15. A latching member 16 pivotally `mounted on rod 12 with toggle link 14, 'cothat it is normally in latching position, being y moved into unlatching or releasing position by its engagement with the tripping arm or member 20. This tripping arm 20 is mounted between the arms of member '21, both member 21 and the tripping arm 20 being pivotally mounted on bearing 22. The tripping arm 20 also carries a boss or offset portion 23 which coperates, in a manner4 to be described, with a pawl 24 operatively related to the operating shaft 19.

- 1n Fig. 2 the operating mechanism for the switch is -shown in switch closing position.

llt will be apparent from the following description lthat this mechanism tri s-treetrom-the-handle whether the switch is opened by hand or-is opened automatically. A handle for the manual operation of the switch is adapted to be applied to the operating shaft 19. When theswitch is manually opened, the shaft 19 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow, the shaft moving the pawl 24 into engagement with the boss 23 which causes the tripping arm 20 to move into tripping engagement with latching member 16. rlhe latching member is thus moved into releasing position and, the locking toggle 14--15 immediately collapses to break the rigid connection between the operating lever 10-and the actuating toggle 7'-8. The actuating toggle 7-8 collapses suddenly, independent of the operating lever 10, and releases the parallel motion mechanism 5 and hence the movable contacts of Switch opening position.

the switch move with a quick action, into r1`he arm 25 connected to the parallel motion mechanism operates to move the rod 6 which connects the arms 25 for the other poles of the switch and thus opens all the poles of the switch simultaneously. 'For closing the switch, it will be apparent that the shaft 19 must be rotated until the locking toggle 14-15 is again straightened and moved into locking position, in which position it is held by the latching member 16. Als the actuating toggle 7-8 is then rigidly connected to the operating lever 10, the rotation of the shaft 19 into switch closing direction, is directly communicated through the operating toggle 17-18, operating lever 10 and locking toggle 14-15 tothe actuating toggle 7--8 and parallel motion mechanisms 5 'to close the switch.

For automatically tripping the operating mechanism to open the switch, 1 provide my novel tripping mechanism which operates to automatically raise .the tripping arm 20 into tripping engagement with the latching member'l, in response to a current flow through the switch above a predetermined lay 26 mounted independently of the switch and carried upon an insulator, the relay havving an energizing winding connected in series with the circuit through the switch. This relay differs from those previously used in that no time or overload adjustments are made upon the relay itself, all such adjustments being made by means separately mounted on the switch, insulated from the relay and thereby maintained always at ground potential.. By this construction I can adjust the time and current settings of my relay without interrupting the operation of the switch.

Tle relay 26 has pivotally related to its armature a lever arm 27 to which is connected a tripping rod 28 of insulating material. The connection between the rod 28 and lever arm 27 is preferably a universal joint thus permitting the location of the relay to suit local conditions. The rod 28 may be inclined 15` degrees from the vertical without affecting the accuracy of the 4mechanism. The relay 26 is designed to respond to conditions of overload upon the circuit through the switch, and in so responding the tripping rod 28.is raised by the lever arm 27 to cause the movement of the tripping arm 20 into tripping engagement with latching member 16 in a manner to bev described. For moving the tripping arm 20 auto'n'iatically in response to the relay 26, 1 provide the member 21 pivotally mounted upon the same shaft 22 with the tripping arm 20. This member 21 is moved into and out of tripping engagement with arm 2() by means of a bell crank lever or actuator arm 30 loosely'mounted on a shaft 31, one end of the bell crank lever being connected to member 21 by links 29 while the other end of the lever 30 is connected to a rod 32 to which the corresponding levers 30 for the other poles of the switch are connected. As the levers 30 are interconnected by the rod 32, all the levers 30 are operated simultaneously.

r1`he time limit means for my tripping device is also connected to the same end of the actuator arm 30 as member 21 and comprises a dash pot 33 secured to a support 34: on the switch, the plunger of the dash pot being secured to a bar 35 connected by links 36 to the actuator arm 30. rllhe operation and novel construction of this time limit means will be described more in detail herelnafter. 1t is apparent from the description given that when the arm30 is .actuated to move the member 21 to tripping position. 1t has to move under the action of the time limit means or dash pot 33. 1f a time limit is not desired, this dash pot can be readily removed or disconnected from the arm 30 wlthout impairing the operating etliciency of the rest of the tripping` device.

To actu'ate the arm 30,1 provide a member or linger 37 which is adjustably mounted on the shaft 31 and which engages one or the other arms of the bell crank lever 30 to move the lever into and out of switch tripj or yoke 38 eccentrically pivoted onone end ping position. The nger 37 and shaft 31 are actuated in response to the relay 26 through the actuation of a current adjusting or overload setting means for the device which comprises a rotatably mounted frame of the shaft 31 and in direct-connection with but insulated from the relay armature 27 by the insulating rod 28. The rod 28, which is pivotally connected to the yoke V38 near one end thereof, in moving in response to the relay 26, rotates the yoke 38, which in turn rotates shaft 31- and causes finger 37 to actuate the actuator arm 30.

' The yoke 38 of the current controlling or adjusting means has a graduated scale beam 39 upon which is slidably or adjustably mounted a carriage 40 carrying a Weight 41 suspended therefrom. By means of an adjusting screw 42, the carriage and weight can be positioned at any point along the scalebeam. B having the yoke 38 eccentrically pivote on the shaft 31 I can adjust my current controlling means readily by positioning the weight 4l. /In the construction shown, by varying the position of the weight 41, the moment of the force necessary to rotate the, yoke 38 is increased or decreased, that is, the force required to r0- tate the yoke 38 is dependent upon the positherefore, required by the lever arm 27 to rotate the yoke 38 and shaft 31 is when the weight is at the extreme end of the `frame 38 toward the point of connection of rod 28. For calibration, a series of graduations 'are made upon the scale beam 39 whichv corrspond to settings of the weight-for certain predeterminedoverloads. By so adjusting the position of the weight 41 Ialong the scale beam 39 a certain definite `pull is required by the lever -arm 27 to rotate the shaft 31 and move the arm lever 30 vinto switch tripping position which pull is proportional to a predetermined current flow through the relay 26.` It will be understood from the construction so `far described, that the relay mechanism for each unit of my switch corresponding to one pole or to one phase can be operated independentlyl to trip the switch' open. The occurrence of an overload therefore labove a predetermined amount on any phase of the circuit through; the switch, opcrates the series relay of the switch unit correspondnig to that phase and through its rod 28 rotates its yoke 38, and actuates its finger 37 to move its lever 30 and thereby communica-te the movement, by means of rod 32, to the mechanism for tripping the switch.

Referring now more specifically to .the time limit means, best shown in Fig. 3, the dash pot 33 partially filled with oil is attached, to the support '34 by -a screw head mounted on the cover of the dash potthrough which passes the hollow or tubular plunger or piston rod- 43. This plunger or piston rod has a screw `headed top by means of which the rod is secured to the bar 35 and is' rendered movable thereby in response to the actuation of actuator arm 30. The other end :of the rod43 is threaded into a piston 44 lcontaming holesy or openings 45 in the head thereof, concentrically Iarranged around a central opening 46. The opening 46 has a conical bore and communicates with the tubular rod 43. Through the threaded portion of the piston 44 is a small opening which is adapted to register with a similar opening through the threaded portion of the rod 43 to form a relief valve or passage 47 between the tubular rod 43 'and the oil above the piston 44. By screwing the rod 43 up or down,

the 'diameter of the passage 47 can be varied and the amount of oil flowing through the passage, regulated. This passage or valve forms th'e only means of escape of the oil ekcept through the clearance space ofthe piston, when the oil is subjected to pressure due to the rise o-f the piston. A lock nut 48 provides a means for holding the adjustment of the valve 47 at any desired point and also serves to limit the movement of the annular ring or piston valve 49 which covers -the openings45 in the piston. This valve 49 performs the usual function of`preventing the passa-ge of oil through the openings 45 when th'e plunger is raised and allowing the free passage of the oil when the piston falls.

With this dash pot structure, I incorporate my novel time Calibrating device for easily and accurately adjusting the time setting of the dash pot from the outside without interrupting the operation of the dash pot. It is well known that the time required by the piston 44 to rise under the pull of the piston rod 43, is determined by the rate of flow of the oil from one side of piston to the other. In my device when the piston moves upward, the only passage `for the oil is by means of 'the by-pass to .the valve 49 through the relief valve 47 into the tubular rod 43 and thence through the central opening or needle valve 46.' This passa-ge or by-pass has two adjustments, first for regulating the opening of the valve 47 which is the rough time adjustmen-t, and second by a fine adjustment comprising a rod 50 threaded-through the screw headed top of tubularrod 43 and terminating at its lower end in a conica-l portion which is adapted to coperate with the conical opening 46 to form a needle valve. By screwing the rod 50 up and down, the opening 46 can be very easily regulated and the. time adjustment for the dash pot accurately controlled. A lock nut 51 holds the rod50 in any desired position. It. is therefore apparent that with one setting of the valve-47 the l? rom the foregoing-description the adcurrent and time adjustments made, the current through ,the relay 26 must reach the predetermined excess amount before suliicient pull is exerted on the armature 27 to rotate. the yokeA 38. When the pull of the relay 26 'is sumcient, the yoke 38 is rotated, the shaft 31 rotated and nger 37 engages and actuates the actuator arm 30. Arm 30 in moving, raises the member 21 under the delayed action ot the dash pot 33 and should the overload exist for the predetermined time, the member 21 raises the tripping arm 20 into tripping engagement with the latching member 16 to trip the switch open.

lf it is desired to trip the sw-itch by remote control, l embody the novel features oit my invention in a device such. as shown inv Fig. i which consists in mounting the current adjusting or overload setting means and the time limit means on a braet 52 which can be located at any convenient point below the series relay 26. rlihe yoke 88 is connected to the relay by the rod 28 and is operated in the same manner as has already been described except that iinger 37 is removed and a lever 53 is substituted for .the bell crank lever 30 which is xed on the shaft operated by the yoke' 38. The yoke also carries a contact arm 54- which is adapted to engage, the contacts 55 mounted side by side on 4the bracket 5l, to close an auxiliary tripping circuit for the switch. t

My invention may be embodied in other forms than tlia-tshown and described and li, therefore, do not wish to be restricted to the precise combination shown but intend to cover by the appended claims all changes and modifications which are with-in the scope of my invention and will be apparent to those skilled in the art. u

What li claim as new and desire to secure v by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. An. electric switch comprising an operating mechanism adapted to be automatically tripped, an actua-tor arm for moving said operating mechanism into tripping position,

' igienical ating mechanism for causing the movement of said actuator arm with a delayed action, and means for maintaining both said current and time adjusting means always at ground potential.. f

2. Ain electric switch comprising an operating mechanism adapted to be automatically tripped, an actuator arm for moving said operating mechanism into tripping position, a relay responsive to current through said switch for con-trolling said actua-tor arm, current adjusting means connected intermediate said actuator arm and said relay tor holding said relay unresponsive to current through the switch below a predetermined amount, time adjusting means connected iiitermediate said actuator arm and said operating mechanism for causing said actuator arm to move with a -delayed action, and means whereby said current and time adjusting means can be adjusted while the switch is closed.

3. An electric switch comp-rising an operating mechanism adapted to be automatically tripped, a relay connected in series with the circuit through the switch, current adjusting means for said relay mounted on the switch, an insulating rod connecting said relay to said current Iadjusting means, an actuator arm actuated in response to movement ot said current' adjusting means to cause the tripping ot said operating mechanism, and a time adjusting'means for said relay operatively related to said actuator arm for causing the movement of said arm with a delayed l0@ action.

d. In a tripping device for an electric switch, the combination with a relay independently mounted and connected in series with the circuit through the switch, ot an actuator arm carried by the switch and movable in response to said relay into switch tripping position, current adjusting means for said relay carried by the switch and operatively related tosaid actuator arm Jfor V v switch tripping position until after a predetermined time.

5. The combination with the operating mechanism of an electric switch, of a device,7 for automatically tripping said operating mechanism to open the switch comprising,

'a relay connected in series with the circuit through the switch, means insulated -from1125 said relay and mounted on the switch for controlling the current setting of said relay, an actuator arm movable by said means into switch tripping position, and means operatively related to said actuator armfor caussoy ing said arm to move into switch tripping,

. tripping member therefor, van actuator arm mounted 'on the switch and adapted when actuated to move said tripping member into swltcli tripplng position, a series connected relay mounted independently of the switch for moving said actuator arm in response to a predetermined ovenload on the circuit through the switch, overload setting means mounted on the switch and insulated from said relay for preventing the actuation of said actuator arm upon overloads 'below said predetermined amount, and retarding means separately mounted on the switch and operatively related to said actuator arm to cause thel movement of said tripping nember into tripping position with a time 7. An electric switch comprising an operating mechanism adapted to be automatically tripped, a member movable into switch 1 tripping position, an actuator arm for moving said mechanism into tripping position, a relay mounted independent of the switch and responsive to current conditions through the switch for operating said actuator arm, current adjusting means mounted on the switch and operatively related to said actuator arm for holding said relay inoperative until the current through the relay exceeds a predetermined amount, and means for maintaining said current adjusting means always at ground potential.

8. A tripping device for electric switches comprising a relay mounted independent of said switch and connected in series with the circuit through the switch, means operative in response to said relay for moving said switch into tripping position, and'independent time and current controlling means for said relay separately mounted on' said switch,'and means whereby both said time and current controlling means .may Y justed independent. of the position of the switch.

9. A tripping device for electric lswitches comprising a relay mounted independent of said switch and connected in series with the circuit through the switch, means operative in response to the actuation of said relay for tripping said switch open, current controlling means for said relay mounted on said switch, intermediate said first mentioned means and said relay, and an insulating connection between said'relay and said controlling means. l

10. A tripping mechanism for an electric switch comprising a member movable into switch tripping position, an actuating shaft, an actuator arm loosely mounted on said shaft and operatively related to said tripbe adping member, a .member mounted on said shaft to engage said actuator arm in response to rotation of said shaft, a relay mounted independent of saidswitch and connected in series With the circuit through the switch, a yoke eccentrically pivoted on said shaft and adapted to rotate said shaft,

an insulating rod connecting said relay to a point onsaid yoke eccentric to the pivot of said yoke, and an adjustably positioned weight carried b said yoke for varying the mcment of the orce necessary to move the yo e. y

l1. The combination with -the operating mechanism of an electric switch adapted to be automatically tripped, of mechanism for tripping said operating mechanism comprising,d anindependently mounted relay connected in series with the circuit through the switch, means mounted on the switch and insulated from said relay for controlling the operation of said relay, an actuator arm operated by said means, a member movable by said actuator arm into position to trip said operating mechanism, and Calibrating means for rendering said controlling means operative to hold said relay unresponsive to currentthrough said switch below apredetermined amount, said controlling means being maintained always at ground potential.

12. The combination with an electric switch having an automatically tripped operating mechanism, of a tripping device lfor rotation of said shaft, and a member movable by said actuator arm into position to trip said operating mechanism.

' 13. The combination with an electric switch having an automatically tripped operating mechanism, of a tripping device of said mechanism comprising, a series-connected relay mounted independent of said switch, a yoke member eccentrically mounted on said switch to rota-te about a fixed pivot, an insulating rod connected between said yoke and said relay for causingl the rotation of said yoke in response to the action of said relay, an actuator arm movable in response to the rotation of said yoke, a member movable by said actuator arm into position to 'trip said operating mechanisml and an adjustably positioned weigh-tv carried by said yoke for holding said relay inoperative to rotate said yoke while the current tiow through said relay-is below a pretol determined amount.

11i. The combination with the operating mechanism oit' an electric switch, oi" an automatic tripping mechanism therefor comprising, a relay mounted independent of the -switch and connected in series with-.the cirn cuit through the switch, current controlling means for said relayv including, a rotatable yoke eccentrically pivoted on said switch, an insulating rod .for rotating said yoke in response to said relayand means operatively related to said Vyoke for varying the moment of the force necessary to rotate said yoke, and an actuator arm movable in response to the rotation oi said yoke into switch tripping position.

15. The combination with the operating mechanism of an electric switch, of an automatic tripping mechanism therefor comprising, a relay mountedindependent ot the switch and connected in series with the circuit through the switch, current setting means for controlling the operation of. said relay including, a rotatable yoke eccentrically pivoted on said switch, an` insulating rod for rotating said yoke in response to said relay, and means operatively related to said yoke for varying the moment of the force necessary to rotate said yoke, an actuator arm movable in response to rotationoi said yoke into switch tripping position, and time limit means for controlling the movement of said actuator arm into switch tripping position consisting of a dash pot, a piston for said dash pot movable `by said actuator arm, and means mounted outside said dash pot for regulating the upward movement of said piston..

16. The combination with the operating mechanism of an electric switch, of an automatic tripping mechanism therefor, comprising a relay mounted independent of the switch and connected in series with the circuit through `the switch, current setting means for controlling the operation of said relay, including, a rotatable yoke eccentrically pivoted on said switch, an insulating rod for rotating said yoke in response to said relay, and means operatively-related to said yoke for varying the moment of the force necessary to rotate said yoke, an ac tuator arm movable in response to rotation of said yoke intoswitch tripping position, retarding means operatively related to. said actuator arm for causing the movement of said arm into tripping position within a predetermined time and means for regulatin@ said retarding means without interrupting the operation thereof.

17. The combination with the operating mechanism of an electric switch, of latching means for holding said mechanism in switch closing position, av member movable into a position to release said latching imam. i

means, an actuator arm tor moving said member, a retarding means simultaneously movable by said actuator arm whereby said member moves with a delayed action, an

electroresponsive means for moving said actuator arm, and a current adjusting means for said `electroresponsive means through the agency of which said actuator arm is movable.

18. rlhe combination with the operating mechanism of an electric switch, of latching means for holding said mechanism in switch closing position, a tripping member movable into a position .to release said latching means, a current responsive relay mounted independently of lsaid switch for moving said tripping member, means mounted on Vthe switch for holding said relay inoperative until the current through said relay ea:- ceeds a predetermined amount, an insulating connection between said relay and said means, and means operative in response to ,Y the movement of said relay to cause said tripping member to be operated with a delayed action.

19. The combination with the operating mechanism of an electric switch, of latching means for holding said mechanism in switch closing position, a member movable into a position to release said latching means, an independently mounted series relay, current and time adjusting means for said relay mounted on the switch and adjustabie while said switch is either opened or closed, and means for maintaining said adjusting means always at ground potential.

20. rEhe combination with the operating mechanism of an electric switch adapted to Y be latched in switch closing position, of a member movable into a position to' release said mechanism, a relay connected in series with the circuit through the switch and mounted independently of said switch,

means carried by the switch for controlling.

the current setting oi"l vsaid relay and for causing said relay to operate with a delayed action, and means for insulating said first mentioned means from .said relay.

21. The combination with the operating mechanism of an electric switch adapted to be latched in -switch closing position, of a member movable into a position to release said mechanism, anrelay connected in series ywith the circuit through the switch and mounted independently of said switch, an

armature movable by said relay, means carried by said switch for holding said armature inoperative until the current through said relay exceeds a predetermined amount,

an insulating connection between said armature and said means, a tripping member movable in response to movement of said means, and means operatively related to said tripping member for causing' its movement to take place with a delayed action.

22. The combination with the operating mechanism of an electric switch adapted to be latched in switch closingl position, a member movable into a position to release said mechanism, an arm for moving said member, electroresponsive means for moving said arm, means for causing said arm to move with a delayed action, and means intermediate said electroresponsive means and said arm for holding said arm4 inoperative until the existence of predetermined conditions in said relay.

23. The combination with the operating mechanism of an electric switch adapted to be latched in switch closing position, a

by said relay when the current to said 20 relay exceeds a predetermined amount, a tripping member movable in response to said means into a position to trip said operating member, and a second means carried by said switch and movable with said trip- 25 ping member to cause said member to move with a time relay.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of April, 1915.

ERNEST H. JACOBS. 

